Problems with Basecamp and NUVI 3590 Symbols

Former Member
Former Member
I've recently bought a 3590 and am very disappointed at how one can't load waypoints from Basecamp or MapSource along with their associated symbols into the 3590. Loading waypoints via the POI loader doesn't solve the problem either. The waypoints load ok but the various symbols I've used are all replaced by a square with a heart in the centre.

I've had a couple of calls with the Garmin support centre and so far all I have is acknowledgement that there is a problem.

I've seen complaints of this shortcoming on another forum and so far no one seems to have found a way around it.

Whats the use of having great trip planning programs like Basecamp and MapSource if Garmin's GPS devices don't support their capability (unlike previous models). It almost seems as if the design team doesn't understand how many people uses their software and devices.
  • That sounds like a major bug/oversight. I've never heard of a device that didn't accept waypoint symbols.

    I'm sooooo glad I got a 1490T and not one of the newer "better" models. IMO the 1490T is a great automotive unit.


    I'm with you there. I also have a 1490T and wouldn't swap it for any of the later/newer models. Rock solid software and imports routes etc with no problem :):):)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Response from Garmin Tech Support

    Oh the other thing I didn't mention is that routes don't get transferred from Basecamp to the 3590 with a GPX file. This wasn't my priority with this device but it makes Garmin's utilities like Basecamp a bit of a joke if the GPS device doesn't support it.

    Below is the response I got from Garmin tech support today. A very poor effort indeed which shows a company who's product development is uncoordinated across product lines. In this case the hardware product and the utility software.
    In my experience that's usually an indicator of greater problems in the company. The response sounds like nonsense as my experience to date with Garmin products has been that there has always been a number of standard symbols that they use.

    "At Garmin there is no standardization of icons and software features even within the Nuvi model line. Even where two Nuvi models have the same or similar software features they may work quite differently. And the differences only get larger as you cross model lines, say from Nuvi to Montana or eTrex or .... etc.

    So the Basecamp developers -- and the Mapsource developers before them -- just do the best they can. In the end, some Basecamp icons are not found on some Garmin devices and some Garmin device icons are not found in Basecamp.

    I agree with the suggestion that it would be nice if icons that are in Basecamp could be installed on a device that does not have them. But that, first, requires the feature be added to the device before the Basecamp developers would be able to take advantage of it.

    Not much point in Basecamp being able to do something that none of the devices know how to do."
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Yeah. I'm happy with all my devices.

    GPSmap 76CSx
    Discontinued but has a great feature set. A bit slow compared to newer models but a great product. The screen is a bit small for my aging eyes so now it's a backup.

    Oregon 450
    Got this on sale for a great price. A great unit for hiking with my 24K Topo's. Just got a BirdsEye Satellite imagery subscription for it. No issues to complain about.

    nuvi 1490T
    Solid and reliable performer. Has real routing and has an undocumented feature to create detailed track/trip logs. Again no real complaints.

    I would not buy one of the newer Garmin models without first waiting for early adopters to post about its limitations and bugs just as they are doing here and elsewhere.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    I'm with you there. I also have a 1490T and wouldn't swap it for any of the later/newer models. Rock solid software and imports routes etc with no problem :):):)

    They'll have to pry my 765T from my cold dead hands. Moving to one of the newer models is a huge step backward if you use any of the features on older units that support saved routes and loading routes.

    ...ken...
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    POI loader comment

    I am a complete beginner at this, and of course expected my Nuvi 3595 and Basecamp would look and operate the same way. I am trying to find out what software to use to get the best out of the Nuvi, but it looks as though I should never have bought it. I used the POI Loader to download POI's from acsv and these loaded the correct symbol into the Nuvi. reading the Nuvi POI's in Basecamp lost the symbols. Loading the same POI's as a GPX file does not work - now I know why.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Do they actually think that the general population who now buys Garmins are the one-button-masher-idiots who buy iphones?

    Yes, which is why many of us long time Garmin users won't purchase one of the newer models.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    This is one of the better threads at illustrating why those of us who use GPSs the way they were made to be used a decade ago are completely miffed at what we're having to endure these days. I wonder if there'll ever be a Nuvi that has the capability of my old Garmin V or Quest? So far, no, but I'm managing.

    I wonder why the Garmin hardware (especially Nuvi) and software (especially BC) people can't get together to produce today what Garmin did so well a decade ago?

    It's much like Microsoft: everything's different and nothing's better, but Garmin has gone them one step farther. It's worse.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Alternative GPS

    I've recently bought a 3590 and am very disappointed at how one can't load waypoints from Basecamp or MapSource along with their associated symbols into the 3590. Loading waypoints via the POI loader doesn't solve the problem either. The waypoints load ok but the various symbols I've used are all replaced by a square with a heart in the centre.

    I've had a couple of calls with the Garmin support centre and so far all I have is acknowledgement that there is a problem.

    I've seen complaints of this shortcoming on another forum and so far no one seems to have found a way around it.

    Whats the use of having great trip planning programs like Basecamp and MapSource if Garmin's GPS devices don't support their capability (unlike previous models). It almost seems as if the design team doesn't understand how many people uses their software and devices.


    Well, my nuvi 3590 is not working out, does anyone here have any suggestions as to another model that would work better for marking waypoints and more capabillities?
  • As you haven't really explained the problem you're having it's difficult to give any advice.